“If You’re Not Feeling It, You Shouldn’t Be Playing It” ZAKK WYLDE Advises Aspiring Musicians

"Nobody was telling those bands [Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and others], 'You have to be more like this,'" Zakk Wylde stresses to young musicians, "That's the most completely wrong way to do anything. It's just like, but you don't even like that, why are you playing that stuff? Why would you eat food you don't like?"

Zakk Wylde has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Pride & Glory, Black Label Society, and is a touring member of Pantera – so, if there's anyone who is qualified to give advice to aspiring musicians, it's Wylde. When talking with Andertons Music Company, transcribed by Guitar World, Wylde had some key knowledge to share:

"So, I think you just have to play what you love. And hopefully, if people enjoy it and like it, then great," Wylde clarifies, "It'd be like telling Lemmy, all the years where he was doing Motörhead, 'Well, you need to be doing more of this, that, more Bon Jovi kind of stuff, to make it more popular.' And he's just like, 'But that's not what I do.' You know what I mean?"

So, kids, do what you love.